Fruit basket



H. E. EVANS I 1 2,066,258 Q FRUIT BASKET Dec. 29, 1936.

Filed NOV. 1]., 1935 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1936 STAS FRUIT BASKETand the like it Will maintain the portions 3 ofthe end walls against theend flaps l obviating the necessity of riveting or otherwise securingto- 1 Claim.

This invention relates to fruit baskets and has for the primary objectthe provision of a device of this character which will permit groupingof such devices so that each group will be of substantially rectangularshape whereby groups of said devices may be packed in railway cars orlike carriers without danger of the groups shifting during transit andwill conserve space and reduce to a minimum the possibility of thecontents of the devices being crushed or otherwise damaged.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a container orbasket of the above stated character wherein the walls are soconstructed that said walls Will be maintained assembled or securedtogether without the use of rivets or like fasteners and the coverssecured closed by a quick adaptable handle so located that it will notinterfere with the grouping of the containers or baskets.

With these and other objects in View, this invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view illustrating a basket or container constructedin accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the container or basket in apartly folded position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the grouping of several baskets orcontainers.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a body ofthe container or basket composed of a bottom wall 2, side walls 3 andend walls Q. The side walls are provided with ventilation openings 5 andhandle-receiving openings 6 also capable of providing ventilation. Theside walls 3 are folded to provide overlapping end flaps I and one ofsaid side walls is of a greater width to provide a cover 8 including aflap 9. The end walls 4 are folded upon themselves to form portions Aand B, the portions A forming a continuation of the bottom wall 2. Afterthe arrangement of the end flaps! in overlapped relation the end wallsare folded thereagainst, bringing the portions A against the outer facesof the flaps I while the portions 13 engage with the inner faces of theflaps I. The end walls overlie the upper edges of the flaps I whenfolded. When the basket or container is packed or filled with fruitgether the end walls and the flaps l.

The flap 9 after the filling of the basket or container is 5 insertedinto the latter bringing the cover 8 into closed position. A handle H0is then applied to the side Walls 3 and brought into engagement with thecover and the latter overlying the end walls prevents the basket orcontainer from collapsing.

The handle it] is preferably located in.-

termediate the ends of the container or basket so that baskets ofcontainers of this character can be grouped, as shown in Figures 4 and5.

The

grouping of the baskets or containers is accomplished by arranging apair of baskets side by side and then placing a second pair of basketsupon the first pair of baskets and arranged transversely thereof. Thismode of grouping can be continued so that each group will possess a sub-H the end of the section 12.

Each section is bent upon itself to provide angle arms 0 and 11respectively. Each arm has its end formed with a hook I4, that isdesigned to pass through the lower openings 6 inthe basket and toreceive therein the wall of the side of the basket directly above saidopening. The arms 0 and d have substantially U-shaped offsets l6 thatprovide lugs or fingers to be received in the upper openings 6 in thebasket. The arms 0 and d are also rounded upon themselves at pointsbetween the fingers l6 and the parts H and i2 of the handle, to providespring loops l5 which are designed to contact with the lid of thebasket.

In practice, the handle sections are separated,

basket.

This is accomplished by swinging the members II and I2 toward each otherand by hooking the ends thereof. As the sides of the basket are inclinedinwardly from the top to the bottom thereof, the sides 0 and d of thehandle will assume a like inclination which brings the hook i3 intotight engagement with the eye on the section II and thereby bring theparts [5, H5 and I4 of the arms 0 and (2 into snug engagement with theparts of the basket engaged thereby.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A removable handle for a basket having a cover and diametrically opposedupper and lower openings in the sides thereof; said handle comprising awire member of two similar sections, one having a hooked end and theother an eye end to receive the hook, each of said sections having anangle arm whose end is bent to provide a hook to be passed through thelower opening in the basket and to be brought to engage with the wall ofthe basket above said opening, each of said arms having a lateralU-shaped finger to be received in the upper opening of said basket andeach of said arms having a loop to overlie and frictionally con- 10 tactwith the cover of the basket.

HOMER E. EVANS.

